Foldable case



oct. 23,1923. 1,471,428

W. E. TUCKER FOLDABLE CASE ed Octvl 14 1922 2 Sheets-Sheetv 1 Oct. 23 1923.

W. E. TUCKER FOLDABLE CASE v Y Filed oct. h14 1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented @ich 23, i923.

entre WLLIAI E. TUCKER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALFORNIA, ASSGNOR T0 GEORGE X. WENDLING, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFQRNA,

FOLDABLE CASE.

To GIZ m t m og/ concern.:

Be it that I, TWILLIAM E. Ttienne, a citizen or the United States, residing at the 'city and county oi San Francisco and State ot California, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Foldable Cases, of which the following is a specication.

The present invention relates to improvements in cases or crat s for the shipment or storage oi commodities and to a device of this character adapted to be collapsed for storage or for return shipment, and has for its principal object to provide a construction which when in collapsed position is disposed with the 'faces of the wall members parallel spaced relation. y Collapsible crates and cases have been designed, and it has been alleged therein that when folded or in collapsed position the walls are in parallel relation which is the case in the patent to `W ay 1,127,328 of ,February 2nd, i915, but which statement is only true of certain walls, and which failure to dispose all of the walls in parallel spaced relation causes great inconvenience in stacking or packing the'collapsed crates or cases. A further object-of this invention is to provide a sectional bottom for the case or crate adapted when in position to lie with its tree ends in interlocking self sustaining relation, which prevents the collapsing ofthe case or crate, and which enables the bottom forming sections to be of short length.

Another object is to provide a crate adapted to be folded into a compact mass and all walls disposed parallel with each other, enabling the storage and packing of the collapsed crates or cases in a small space and without the loss of room occasioned when the bulging crates or cases are formed in knocked down condition.

jects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and setfort-h inthe claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantage of the invention. Y

To more fully vcomprehend the invention reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a view in perspective ofthe preterredembodimentv oi my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line '2 2 or Figure 1. o

Figure 3 is a view in fragmentary detail' of one of the hinges for mounting one of .the bottom sections.

'Figure 4 is a view in fragmentary elevation of one of the hinges connecting the in-` ner ends of adjacent walls, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary'view' in detail plan illustrating the free ends oit the bottom forming members in interlocking position. V

Figure Gis a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 8 showing the case in collapsed position.

Figure 7 is aA longitudinal sectional View of case with the bottom wall forming sections in raised position.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Figure 6.

YFigure 9 is avview in detail plan 'ot a solid case floor formed of interlocking members. l v

Referring more particularly to kthe several views of the drawings wherein like characters or reference designate corre sponding parts, l indicates crate side wall members hinged at their ends by hinges 2 and 3 to the Opposite ends 'of the end wall members 4. The wall members are-illustrated as of slat Jformation, but it is to be understood that the same may be solid if desired. The hinges 2 are applied externally oit' the coacting ends of side and end wall members l and 4, and the hinges 3 are applied internally, they being preferably ar-v ranged diagonally of the case, as in Figure lVith the above mentioned and other ob-y 1 of the drawings. The hinges 3 are each formed with an oiset portion 5 and leg or attaching portion 6 disposed at right angles to the portion 5. This construction enables adjacent side and end wall inembers to fold parallel with each other in spaced relation as in Figure 6, permitting the bottom sections hereinafter described to be received between their adjacent surfaces Vwithout causing said wall members to deviate from a parallel position.Y

ioo

In the present embodiment, the bottom Wall consists of a plurality of Wall section members 7 hinged as at 8 to the lower edges of the inner faces of the end Wall members el, and each of a length corresponding to approximately one half the length of the case.

In the preferred embodiment the sections 7 are of slat structure, the slats of the respective sections being united at points removed from their ends by transverse battens 9, which are adapted to abut when the sections are folded downwardly with the projecting ends 10 of the slats 11 in overlapping interlocking position, This construction affords a self supporting interlock for the lfree overlap ing ends of the bottom -forming sections. Yis in Figure 9, the solid bottom l2 may be employed instead of the slat structure illustrated in the other views. If desirable, the bottom forming sections may be hinged to opposing side Wall members instead of the ends.

For transportation purposes, when it is desired to close the case, the same may be provided with a cover member, a particular embodiment being illustrated in the bottom of a pair of slat sections 13, hinged as at 14 to the upper edges of the side Wall members, and which are adapt-ed to fold downwardly thereon, as in Figures 6 and 8. If it be so desired, the cover may be in a single piece or may be formed similarly to the bottom, so that the sections Will interlock When in substantially horizontal position.

Having thus described my invention What l claim as'neW and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A collapsible case including side and end Wall members hingedly united to fold into parallel spaced relation, and a bottom comprising a pair of members hinged to opposing case Wall members to lie between adjacent parallel spaced side and end Wall members When collapsed, said bottom forming members adapted on the assembling of the case to fold With their freel edges into interlocking self sustaining engagement.

2. collapsible case including side and end Wall members hingedly united to fold into parallel spaced relation, and a bottom comprising a pair of members hinged to the. inner face of opposing end Wall members, one to lie between adjacent parallel spaced side and end' Wall members Whe; collapsed, said bott-om forming members adapted on the assembling of the case to fold with their free edges into interlocking self sustaining engagement.

3. collapsible case including hingedly connected side and end Wall members, a bottom for said case including a pair of members each hinged at one end to the inner face of opposing wall members and their free ends adapted when said members are in alignment to interlock in self sustaining relation and prevent the collapsing of the case.

el. A collapsible case including hingedly connected side and end Wall members, a bottom for said case including a pair of members each hinged at one end tothe main frame of opposing` rWall members With' their free ends adapted When said members are in alignment to interlock in self sustaining relation and a. hinged cover for said casen 5. A collapsible case including hingedly connected side and end Wall members adapted for collapsing into parallel spaced relation or extending to form a substantially rectangular case, a cover hinged to said Wall members, and a bottom Wall for said case comprising a plurality of hingedly mounted members adapted When said case is in extended position to fold With their free ends into interlocking self sustaining engagement.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specication.

WHJLIAM E. TUCKER. 

